Morris says five-year rule limits Locker

Washington senior associated athletic director for compliance & student development John Morris said injured quarterback Jake Locker qualifies for a medical redshirt, but the five-year rule will almost certainly keep him from getting it.

“The long and short of it is this, Jake and I did talk. Does Jake qualify for a medical redshirt? Yes. There is a new tweak to the rule where if you haven’t played in 30 percent of the game, you qualify,” Morris said.

Thirty percent would be 3.6 games and, according to Morris, the NCAA rounds up. Given that Locker was hurt in the fourth game of the season, he would qualify on that hand.

It’s the other hand that spoils it.

“The problem is the five-year rule. Jake’s five-year clock would expire,” Morris said. “In order to get the sixth year, like Juan (Garcia) got, you’d have to lose two seasons to circumstances beyond your control.

“The traditional redshirt rule does not help you with that.”

Locker sat out his first season at Washington. Morris said the NCAA does not consider that to be circumstance beyond the athlete’s control.

However, Morris said he may submit the paperwork, anyway.

“We may go ahead and ask for it so we have it on file if, God forbid, he get injured again and misses significant time, but there’s really no arguing with (the traditional redshirt rule),” Morris said.